76 Oil Wells Saga: Cross River will no longer be cheated — Gov Otu

2026-02-17 - 17:36

By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has vowed that the state will no longer tolerate injustices surrounding the disputed 76 oil wells, insisting that Cross River’s rights must be recognised, protected, and upheld. Otu made the declaration at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, during a reception following his recent engagements on the contentious oil wells issue. “There comes a time in the life of a people when our rights must be asserted and defended. People cannot be cheated forever,” the governor said. Referring to the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008 following the International Court of Justice ruling, Otu emphasised that the decision was made in the interest of national peace, not to strip Cross River of its economic assets. “The ceding of part of Bakassi was for Nigeria’s peace; it was not for Cross River State to forfeit its oil wells. Enough of nonsense. Cross River State cannot take rubbish anymore. What is our right is our right. We are full-fledged Nigerians, and nobody can deny us,” he stated. The oil wells dispute has long been a source of contention between Cross River and neighbouring oil-producing states, particularly after Supreme Court rulings beginning in 2012 removed Cross River from the list of littoral states entitled to 13 per cent derivation from offshore oil wells in the Bakassi area. Subsequent judgments involving Akwa Ibom State affirmed maritime boundaries and revenue allocations based on the adjusted territorial status, significantly altering Cross River’s revenue profile. Otu’s remarks signal a firmer political stance as the state continues consultations and engagements to address the matter through legitimate and lawful channels. Linking the oil wells issue to broader developmental challenges, the governor lamented poor road infrastructure, maternal health risks, and youth unemployment. “Pregnant women should be able to travel from Calabar to Biase without risking their lives,” he said. “Our unemployed youth are suffering all over the place, many unable to eat even once a day. It is time for Cross River to become a real state.” He praised the people of Cross River as hardworking and capable, stressing that the state possesses the human capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development. “We have human capacity in all respects. Any role you want to engage us in Nigeria, we are ready for it,” he added. Calling for unity among residents, Otu urged citizens to remain resolute and optimistic about a “new dawn” for the state. “Cross River change must go forward. It is forward ever, backward never,” he declared.